So, a cult favourite artist from the 1970s goes from town to town, performing with a bunch of musicians he's never worked with before. If that isn't a recipe for disaster, I'm not sure what is.
Fortunately, former Can vocalist Damo Suzuki is a vocal alchemist par excellence, and with three quite different backing units performed a trio of exciting and dynamic sets at the Avant-Garde Bar Oct. 14.
Although Suzuki's voice is tuneful enough that you can make out what he's saying, even with his accent, the effect of word-riffs is to make the ear (or, at least, my ear) listen to it more as music. Sure, you could direct your brain to string the syllables together into words, but the rhythm the tone, the melody - that's what it really wants to absorb.
His first accomplices were Brad Crowe and David Jackson of
Kerista (they've also played together in Anorak). While Crowe manipulated a device of unknown provenance, a keyboard and a Danelectro pedal with extreme finishing wear, Jackson gave his Apple laptop intent study.
Damo himself!
And Jackson, Damo and Crowe, and some gadget with different coloured buttons.
The IDM and sound manipulation was mostly low-key, though there were a few moments of harshness, some heavy groove, vaguely orchestral harmonies ... a lot of grist for Damo's mill as he switched from a heavy growl to the more melodic vocal riffs familiar to anyone who's bought one of Can's classic albums
Tago Mago,
Ege Bamyasi,
Future Days or
Soundtracks.
For his second set he called on Unireverse (Brian Damage of Phycus, Michael Caffery of Daydream Square and Beautifuzz, Alex Moskos of Goa! and Kubelka) and Joel on drums (who also appeared with Goa! when they played the Avant-Garde this summer). The members of Unireverse likes their Moogs, and they like their krautrock (they covered Brainticket on their recently released album,
Plays The Music) so they might have been the most "appropriate" of the enlisted ensembles.
Damo, and just visible behind him, Michael's ghostly image.
Here's the whole bunch ...
Joel got squeezed into the corner; I wedged myself under a table for this picture.
Alex Moskos gets down on the keys.
Mr. Damage in a very snazzy shirt.
More Damo and a less spectral Michael!
A brief break, and group No. 3 was up. Mike Dubue (Hi Lo Trons), Jamie Gullikson (The Flaps),
Adam Fogo, Steve Matylewicz and Brendan Allistone (although Adam did try to convince me everyone's first name was "Jan", for some reason ...). It would take too long to go through all the bands the various members are involved in, but there are ties with
Burti Lasky, Pleather,
Wax Mannequin, Gammahoochee (or whatever it's calling itself nowadays), et. al. For pure instrumental chops I think you have to hand the ribbon to them, and their second "song" with Damo, fuelled by Jaime's fast'n'funky drumming was probably the show's highlight.
On your left: Fogo, Gullikson, Damo, and a bit of Allistone ...
On your right, more Damo and Allistone, plus Matylewicz and Dubue.
Drumsticks - they're not just for breakfast.
The explosive finale!
Damo really was amazing - his ability to sing for 20 minute stretches without a drink is remarkable all in itself, if you ask me ...
